[C rank mission: Dealing with Bandits]
[Hunt down the group of bandits that continues to harm trade with the land of rain.]
"Tsk... missions are such a waste of my precious time, time that should have been dedicated to my precious research!"
Kunai and shuriken are thrown from all over only to be caught by a thick layer of sand protecting a hooded shinobi, half of his face is covered by a white bone mask with air filters his turquoise eyes and long brick-red hair are the only thing that would give out his exact identity if not for the following sand around him.
This is naturally Gaara who is on a hunting mission.
"Quit whining and attack already."
A Shukaku the size of a full grown lion stood beside Gaara, he naturally hated this wet forest and wanted to go back to the arid lands of sunagakure.
"Hehe wait lemme just try this thing."
'Sand shower barrage!'
The weapons stuck in the sand fell down clanging as they hit the ground then solidified sticks of sand flew towards the attacking bandits like machine gun rounds.
The bandits groaned in pain and rolled over the wet muddy forest floor, some are unconscious, while some are vomiting whatever they had for breakfast. None of these bandits died in his counter attack serving only to incapacitate those who are hit for several dozens of minutes. Yes they will wake up with broken bones, but they'll live... for now.
Of course Gaara wouldn't kill these guys. Dying would have been too nice for these people, his research would sometimes (most times) needed to have a practical application for data gathering before they are deemed safe or potent enough to be used.
"You... How..."
A bandit asked through gritted teeth before losing consciousness. He couldn't believe how a sand ninja can keep his fighting strength in his current environment where rain poured like it has no intentions of stopping.
"Oh... You mean my sand? Its easy, really. Unlike the others before me, I specially made my sand is hydrophobic. But you don't have to know what that is do you."
Gaara smirked widely and the goon leader went unconscious after a fist made of sand hit his chin.
Gaara sighed and rolled his eyes feeling like a villain of some low budget anime franchise. He had to admit that being a villain of a story is very interesting but he is afraid that these long talks with the prey will get himself killed in the future so he decided to refrain from such activities too much.
He gathered the bandits and prepped them for transport to Takamagahara. Two people wearing similar outfits then appeared before Gaara in a half kneeling position.
"Be careful not to damage them further, they are very precious volunteers to our program so we have to treat them well."
"Hai!"
The figures bowed down and disappeared with the captured bandits.
"You can come out now! Or do I have to force you?"
"Hehe well you are better than I thought sand ninja!"
A man with rasp voice spoke and became visible under the rain. He wore black hood with red cloud patterns, his face covered by a cloth only revealing a similar turquoise eyes.
"What do you need from me Kakuzo? I don't remember having crossed the Akatsuki's interest."
The hooded figure was quite shocked that his identity is already known by the person in front of him his mind spun as he thought.
"Oh but I am interested... Let's see... Red hair, turquoise eyes, plus the sand. You should be the jinjuriki of sunagakure if I'm not wrong. There's a bounty on your head ya know."
Kakuzo smiled waving an open booklet with blue cover.
Gaara smiled inwardly.
"Oh yeah? Still bounty hunting are we? Short on cash I see? Do you think you and your partner have what it takes?"
Hidan appears behind Gaara swinging his red triple-bladed scythe with a maniacal expression.
"Hahahahaha we'll just have to see about that."
'I shouldn't be their real target right?'
Gaara's mind spun, the akatsuki shouldn't be targeting him at this point in time so this meeting would likely be more of a coincidence. His gourd opened and sand gushed out to defend him.
The scythe was caught by the sand, Hidan wanted to pull it out but jumped back to dodge when spikes of sand attacked him from below. He looked pissed from losing his favorite weapon clicking his tongue loudly.
A blast of wind suddenly appeared behind Gaara making Hidan break out with a smile of success.
"Don't underestimate him Hidan. He should be alive."
Kakuzo made hand seals and a tall figure behind him cast a lightning ray towards the same location from the mouth of its mask.
When the smoke dissipated, a construct made of sand appeared, covering the ground around it are sparking spikes that had a semblance to the letter Y.
"I heard you have a very interesting technique."
Gaara smirked like a kid.
'Earth Wind style: Sand needle barrage!'
Gaara made sand needles and infused them with wind nature chakra, unlike sand shower barrage, this jutsu is designed to kill anyone in the affected area.
Gaara's sand cocoon loosened as he looked towards the damage he's made, a whole area fifty meters around him became a no man's land filled with chakra coated needles.
"They left..."
Gaara looked almost sad.
Meanwhile...
"Aaaaaargh! Shit! Jashin curses you to die shinobi of the sand!"
Hidan pulled out the sand needles all over his body, it certainly failed to kill him but the pain is still there.
"Let's pull out, the info we have on him looks very outdated. Risking it is not a good idea when we actually do have a mission right now."
'Tsk... There goes my ten million ryo.'
Kakuzo wouldn't go back in there even if someone offered another ten million over the original bounty but he was still disappointed about not getting the money from this chance encounter.
"Haa sheeesh, honestly, that is very dangerous man, why did you even snoop around that guy? Hmmm we should choose those easier prey next so I can sacrifice something to Jashin or he'll be pissed, I promised a few days ago and haven't delivered until now."
Hidan grimaced as he pulled out the last of the remaining sand needles before smiling piously.
"Do whatever you want."
'At least I have intel to sell.'